SPANISH CLASS MANDATORY IN DISTRICT 117

Diana DeloguCHICAGO TRIBUNE

Beginning next fall, students at the junior high in North Palos School District 117 will be required to take a Spanish class in 7th and 8th grades.

The requirement tentatively was approved at Tuesday night's school board meeting, with all members agreeing on the benefits of offering students a second language and culture. But several school board members said they were worried that students who are struggling in their core subjects would only slip further behind if they also had to tackle a foreign language.